20th Anniversary Barleywine
Saint Arnold Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance: Pretty pale brown glass glows with a hint of haze in a deep leather color. Unfortunately there isn't any head or retention, looks a bit flat.

Aroma: Rich malt, sugary toffee, light brown paper note blends with a dusty hop for a hint of age.

Taste: Sweet fig and plum notes are paired with an alcoholic heat and earthy hop bitter that doesn't approach balance, and shouldn't. Almost a flat cola sweetness, but there's a level of char and age that makes the package more than the sum of it's parts.

Mouthfeel: Heavy body, flat carbonation, firm chew, oily finish, hot alcohol goes numbing.

Overall: I'll gladly raise a glass to a young and growing Brewery. I was surprised they were only 20 having dominated the Texas Craft Beer scene for many many years with a fine line up of well made stand by favorites (Amber) and Rare Exotic Beasts like Divine Reserve 5. They are everything to everyone all the time, Cheers to the people that make that happen.
This is a fine celebration beer, looking forward to many more.

 

Bottled June 2014, enjoyed January 2016. Pours a deep coppery brown with modest head that dissipates quickly, leaving a thin dusting of foam around the edge of the glass. Smells of earl grey tea, with bergamot oil and floral notes indicating there's still some hoppiness yet--unexpected given the billing as being more English than American style. That said, there is also biscuit, yeast, and toffee. A touch of oxidation in the flavor profile indicates this may be getting long in the tooth. I would not recommend cellaring much longer.

Cloudy ruby red pour with a small white head. Aroma is malty with some hints of dark fruit. Flavor is very strong with sweet malt, dark fruit, such as prunes, and light spice being the main tastes that stand out. Full bodied and warm with a slight bitterness in the end.

22oz bottle poured into a teku glass, looks to be about 17 months old at this point

A- pours a murky brow color with a small creamy off-white head that retains and settles into a film, leaving sone nice lacing behind

S- sweet and malty aroma with notes of caramel/toffee, raisin, fig, black cherry, brown sugar & molasses

T- sweet malt bomb up front with loads of caramel/toffee, along with flavors of raisin, fig, dark cherry & brown sugar, sweet malty finish

M- medium body with moderate-low carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel and finish, ABV has mellowed nicely

O- a classic english barleywine malt bomb that has mellowed nicely with some age on it

 

 

 

 

 

 

This ruby-mahogany ale is sweet and malty up front, and hoppy and boozy thereafter. Nose is malt, hops and alcohol. Ends a bit dry, but this is some sipper. The sweet big malts are terrific and at times toward the candied side, never cloying, and this has a nice full mouthfeel as well, with a hop rush, a burn, and it's a bit syrupy too. If anything this a bit boozy, but if you sip it slowly as it should be, that shouldn't be a problem.

A very tasty barleywine. Sweet, but not cloying, certainly boozy, and malty up the wazzoo! I suppose I coulda held it for a year or two, but who am I kidding. I gave it about 6 hours before I cracked it open.

Another fine job by our Houston friends at Saint Arnold.